Saw Dr Sanghera, Consultant Clinical Oncologist and Fred Berki Clinical Nurse Specialist.
Visit to discuss the MRI scan (No. 37) Deb had on Tuesday 6 September. We compared the latest scan with previous scan taken on 20 July. The latest scan showed the two new tumours had grown. Tumour growth was slow but the change in the 7 week period between scans was clearly visible.
This is very bad news. (To remind you: glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is one of the most aggressive primary brain tumours. The median survival time of adult patients after diagnosis remains approximately 14 months. Only about 5% of patients survive more than 3 years and reports of survival exceeding 5 years are rare. Survival times following recurrence are even worse. So Deb is a very unusual case).
We reviewed options for treatment. It was agreed that in the first instance Deb would start with a course of temozolomide chemotherapy. This is the chemotherapy Deb had when she was first diagnosed. She tolerated it well but had side effects of sickness (she will take drugs to counteract this) and tiredness. The chemotherapy will start in 2 weeks time. Each course will last a month and consist of a week of treatment followed by a rest period of 3 weeks.
Dr Sanghera hopes the tumour growth will be controlled by this treatment. If not we can consider radiotherapy or surgery.
Deb had blood samples taken. Next appointment will be at the QE Cancer Centre on 19 September to start chemotherapy. We are looking forward to going on our long weekend trip to Lisbon with some good friends.
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